Red light flickered.
With a "boom", Monferno was instantly engulfed by a giant fireball.
However, no excess energy leaked out to affect the surroundings; instead, the Holy Fire formed a vast Flame Territory, trapping Monferno within.
Emperor Yan not only mastered the Holy Fire but also the Fire of Life; theoretically, Holy Fire is the superior flame to the Fire of Life. With Emperor Yan's intentional control, it naturally also contained the essence of life.
At this moment, the flames targeted Monferno exclusively, sparing the outside world; yet, Monferno had to endure the full power of the flames!
"Wu-ah————"
Although Monferno feared nothing, Emperor Yan was a Legendary Pokémon, and was using the Fire System's Ultimate Sacred Flame, so the moment it was within the Flame Territory, it almost instantly felt the agony of being scorched, contorting its face into a fierce grimace.
This was the first time it experienced such intense scorching pain as a Fire-type Spirit.
Even the sheer force of the Intersecting Flame was not as powerful as the Holy Fire.
This level of power, if faced with a different attribute, might have knocked it out in one hit!
At this point, the Holy Fire was burning Monferno's will, spirit, "soul," body, and soul together, causing unbearable pain. Under this immense suffering, even fainting seemed like a luxury, as if only when the flames completely eroded everything would they cease.
"Ma-sha..."
The temperature rose higher and higher. Feeling the power of the Holy Fire, Mashaduo, who was far away, blinked in surprise.
Isn't Emperor Yan exerting a bit too much effort? Although the test must be strict, the intensity of these flames has surpassed the scope of a "test." Instead, it seems like a real battle!
Even Lei Gong and Shui Jun felt Emperor Yan was overdoing it; after all, Monferno was just an Ordinary Pokémon.
But was that really the case...
"I'm still here."
Fang Yuan wanted to use the Power of the Heart to strengthen Monferno's fighting spirit, but the Wave Guide couldn't penetrate the domain of the Holy Fire and was incinerated halfway through.
Fang Yuan didn't get discouraged because as long as his voice reached Monferno, even without the Power of the Heart, it could understand his intention.
In the midst of the Holy Fire, even the Flame of Will was nearly extinguished, but deep inside, Monferno's heart remained stubbornly defiant.
Hearing Fang Yuan's voice, it firmly nodded its head.
Through the flames, its gaze locked onto Emperor Yan.
Thunder Flame Mode, activate—
It wanted to use the power of the Holy Fire to enhance its Intersecting Power!
The flames intensified the thunder and lightning, and in turn, the thunder and lightning intensified the flames.
This was the characteristic of Intersecting Power, and it was now a battle between the Holy Fire and Intersecting Power!
"Wu-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah—" As Monferno's body bent down and suddenly straightened up, its arms swung to both sides. The flames and thunder in Monferno's eyes grew increasingly intense, and with a thunderous roar, the domain formed by the Holy Fire deformed, as if a Hurricane had been stirred up inside!
At that instant, a Heat Wave rushed forth, causing Emperor Yan to frown slightly, sensing the birth of a Legendary Power that did not fall short of the Holy Fire.
Shui Jun, Lei Gong, and Mashaduo were also captivated by the flickering flames, their gazes intensifying.
Boom!!!
The Monferno, originally completely swallowed by the Holy Fire, now had golden flames and an aura of intertwining lightning and fire emanating from its body. Although still seemingly insignificant compared to the Holy Fire, it looked like it had the initial capital to contend with it!
Golden flames filled the sky, lightning spread far and wide, and the flames and lightning formed the phantom images of two Legendary Dragons.
The Holy Fire used by Emperor Yan gradually morphed into the form of Ho-Oh, battling with the two giant dragons.
Standing under the might of the three Legendary Powers, Monferno's body seemed on the verge of collapsing, but its gaze remained firmly fixed on Emperor Yan, as if indicating it had not yet been defeated.
Just then, as the Holy Fire was restrained by the Intersecting Power, Fang Yuan's Power of the Heart finally connected with Monferno's "soul," and azure Wave Guide surged forth from both Fang Yuan and Monferno.
Beneath the dazzling light of the fire, the force of the Intersecting Power bursting from Monferno gradually suppressed the Holy Fire, and by Devouring the flames, it continuously grew stronger—
Open Gate, Rest Gate, Life Gate, Injury Gate, Stop Gate, Scene Gate, Shock Gate—in the relentless Devouring, the might of the Intersecting Power climbed higher and higher!
In a brief moment, by Forcefully absorbing the Holy Fire, Monferno reached the Seven Gate Semi-Legendary Form that would normally require the assistance of Victini and Ditto to activate!
At that moment, Monferno once again possessed a power on par with Legendary Level, it looked toward Emperor Yan, flashed a grin, and with a casual space-shaking punch, the Holy Fire completely dissipated, leaving only the phantom images of two Legendary Dragons swirling around it.
"Whooah!!"
Monferno's gaze was filled with a battle intent, seemingly unsatisfied with the current situation, as if it craved a real fight with Emperor Yan. It stared directly at Emperor Yan without any intention of backing down.
The Sacred Flame passed down by Ho-Oh was directly scattered by a frontal assault from Monferno!
Mashaduo was left dumbfounded.
Lei Gong and Shui Jun silently watched the Monferno.
Emperor Yan, feeling the power surging within its body that was not inferior to its own, also had some doubts in its heart and really wanted to look back at Mashaduo... A test?
Wasn't it the test of The Brave of the Rainbow? How did it feel like The Brave of the Rainbow even had the capability to fight against them, the Three Sacred Beasts??
Boom!!!
This was no longer a test; what was termed a test had evolved into a stand-off between two forces with Legendary Level Power. The terrifying power seemed to burn a huge hole in the sky, and such an appalling celestial phenomenon could be clearly felt by several cities around the Yunying Mountain Range. Countless citizens opened their windows, looked towards the distant horizon, and showed signs of worry.
Beside them, Master Fan was already wide-eyed, not understanding what was happening.
"Ma-sha!!!"
This didn't seem right at all; seeing the test about to evolve into a battle of legendaries, Mashaduo was sweating bullets out of fear.
Although frightened, it quickly appeared between the two spirits and tried to stop the fight.
They couldn't... They absolutely couldn't fight here.
The whole Azure Mountain would be destroyed.
This is where Ho-Oh resides!!!
Do you want to destroy Ho-Oh's lair?
How are you going to explain this when Ho-Oh arrives?
"Roar..."
Mashaduo's words poured a bucket of cold water over Emperor Yan's heated spirit.
Emperor Yan's footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
It cast a meaningful glance at Monferno and then, indifferently, turned around.
The test, Monferno had passed.
As for fighting, maybe next time.
"Whooah—"
At this moment, Monferno, who had forcibly used the Holy Fire to strengthen the Intersecting Power and open the Seven Doors, knew that although its power was not inferior to the time it fought Mewtwo, it knew this state was temporary. With the Seventh Door state, it wouldn't last long before it returned to its original form.
Moreover, the aftermath of using the Holy Fire and opening the Seventh Door would manifest, leading to injuries far more severe than before. It had thought that with this state, it could fully enjoy a battle with Emperor Yan, but as Emperor Yan turned around, it suddenly showed a perplexed expression. Is it leaving just like that??
Hey... You're just not fighting?
What was the point of opening the Seven Doors then??
To lie down for a year and a half without reason??
Monferno immediately wanted to follow, but was stopped by Fang Yuan.
"It's okay, Monferno. When Ho-Oh arrives, your injuries will be healed instantly. Even if not, the space-time channel has been established, and we can go back for Dream to help with treatment. The injuries won't last long this time. Come back and digest your gains first, we still have to continue to pass the tests," said Fang Yuan, his voice reaching into Monferno's heart.
Hearing this, Monferno paused for a moment and nodded, seeing reason.
Monferno exhaled a breath of hot air and waved away the power from its body.
Feeling the aftermath starting to surge, it returned to Fang Yuan's side physically and mentally exhausted, and sat down on the rock where Glutton had sat earlier.
Waiting for Ho-Oh.
"Strengthening BUFF, an absurd notion." By this time, seeing Monferno return triumphantly from such a painstaking effort, perfectly overcoming the Sacred Flame, Fang Yuan had already decided to negotiate with Ho-Oh for some Holy Ash to help Monferno recover, no matter what.
Before that, they had to quickly pass the next two tests!